Manger David O’Leary faces censure or fine after running the width of the pitch and gesturing to his paymaster, following Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Birmingham. From the BBC :

The Villa boss passed referee Graham Poll on his way and could be reported by the official for offensive, insulting or abusive language.

O’Leary defended his actions, saying he was dedicating the win to Ellis.

He said: “I knew how much this meant to the chairman and this was the only way of going over.

“The chairman has taken a lot of stick this week and has been very ill.

“I could see him and how ‘smiley wiley’ he was.”

The FA had not yet received Poll’s report when contacted by BBC Sport and were unable to verify the story.

If O’Leary is charged and found guilty, he is likely to receive a fine and, or, a touchline ban.

Manchester City moved up to 4th place in the Premiership yesterday, after a 2-1 home win over West Ham, Andy Cole scoring both of City’s goals. Bobby Zamora, formerly of Brighton, tapped in his first top flight goal for West Ham.

With the flight-phobic Dennis Bergkamp unavailable, Thierry Henry is expected to make his return to injury-plagued Arsenal in time for tomorrow night’s trip to Sparta Prague.


(Chivas’ Arturo Torres tangles with the MetroStars’ Jason Hernandez)

Though it is obviously an action packed Monday morning for the New York Times’ sports section (child golfers being disqualified, the Giants’ red zone woes, etc.), it is kind of sad that the Paper Of Record’s national print edition couldn’t even manage a mention of the MetroStars sneaking into the MLS playoffs, courtesy of their 2-0 victory at lowly Chivas US . Said result knocked Kansas City out of the Eastern Conference’s fourth and final playoff spot. Suddenly, Alexi Lalas’ firing of Bob Bradley seems that much less Esposito-like. At least until NY/NJ get hammered in the opening round.